Minimum order quantity — MOQ — is one of the first questions every optical practice asks when approaching a wholesale supplier. It determines whether wholesale pricing makes sense for your volumes and how frequently you'll need to reorder to keep shelves stocked.
This guide breaks down what MOQs look like for each major category of optical accessories in Canada, why they exist, and how to plan your ordering cycle so you're never caught short and never overstocked.
Why MOQs exist
Minimums exist because wholesale suppliers produce, pack, and ship in bulk — the economics of sourcing, warehousing, and order processing only work above a certain volume. Below that volume, the margin disappears and the order costs more to process than it generates.
MOQs at a reputable Canadian wholesale supplier are set to be workable for most optical practices, not prohibitively high. A busy dispensary dispensing 100+ frames a month will typically clear a 100-unit case minimum in 4–8 weeks — which is a healthy reorder frequency.
MOQs by product category
Here is what to expect across the main accessory categories:
- Eyeglass cases (soft, plastic, metal): typically 100 units per style — mix of colours usually available within the minimum
- Microfibre lens cloths (plain): typically 100 units per colour; custom printed runs typically start at 100 units
- Lens cleaner spray (125ml): typically 100 units per colour/variant
- Retail bags: typically 100 units per style
- Nosepads and screws: typically sold in assortment kits — quantities are kit-based rather than per-piece
Custom printing and MOQs
Custom logo printed products generally have the same or similar minimums as plain versions — 100 units — because the setup cost (plate creation, proof approval) is a fixed cost that gets spread over the run. The key difference is that re-orders once your logo plate is on file can sometimes be processed at lower quantities, since no new setup is needed.
Always ask your supplier what their re-order minimum is separately from the initial setup minimum.
Planning your ordering cycle
A useful rule of thumb: your order quantity should represent 4–8 weeks of consumption at your practice. If you dispense roughly 80 frames a month and hand out one case per frame, a 100-unit minimum order gives you about 5–6 weeks of stock — a workable reorder cadence.
For consumables like lens cleaner, the math is simpler. Count how many bottles you go through in a month and multiply by 6–8 to find a sensible order size that balances storage space against reorder frequency.
- Cases: typically 4–8 weeks of dispensing volume
- Lens cleaner: 6–8 weeks of retail sales volume
- Microfibre cloths: 4–6 weeks, or match to a frame-sale volume if you give one per frame
- Repair supplies: typically quarterly orders based on repair volume
Getting pricing and MOQ details for your specific mix
MOQs and pricing depend on your product mix, whether you're ordering plain or custom-printed products, and your location. Top Flight Canada serves all Canadian provinces and territories from our Vaughan, Ontario warehouse. Contact us with your product list and estimated monthly volume and we'll come back with current pricing and minimums.
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